Method for processing sliver

ABSTRACT

A method of increasing the operating efficiency of a textile drafting machine such as a gilling machine wherein, instead of utilizing a large number of small, conventional size slivers from individual sliver cans, a single oversize sliver having a weight per unit length comparable to the collective weight per unit length of the many conventional size slivers and having a substantially higher tensile strength than the conventional size slivers is fed into the drafting zone of the drafting machine so that parting of the sliver is substantially eliminated. The invention also includes novel apparatus for accommodating a single large sliver can and the feeding of the single oversize sliver therefrom into the drafting machine.

United States Patent Johns [451 Aug. 22, 1972 METHOD FOR PROCESSINGSLIVER [72] Inventor: Herman S. Johns, .lohnsonville, SC.

[73] Assignee: Wellman Industries, Inc., Johnsonville, SC.

[22] Filed: July 17, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 55,887

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.46,866, June 17, 1970, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl ..l9/l50, 19/157 [51] Int. Cl. ..D0lg 21/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..19/243, 150, 157, 65 A, 236, 19/98, 159

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS I 318,046 5/1885 Simmons..l9/l50 2,301,677 11/1942 Banfield, Jr. ..19/150 2,728,112 12/1955Berker ..l9/157 X 990,678 4/1911 Stratton ..19/98 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 858,326 5/1940 France 19/243 Primary ExaminerDorsey NewtonAttorney-Parrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson S 7] ABSTRACT A method ofincreasing the operating efficiency of a textile drafting machine suchas a gilling machine wherein, instead of utilizing a large number ofsmall, conventional size slivers from individual sliver cans, a singleoversize sliver having a weight per unit length comparable to thecollective weight per unit length of the many conventional size sliversand having a substantially higher tensile strength than the conventionalsize slivers is fed into the drafting zone of the drafting machine sothat parting of the sliver is substantially eliminated. The inventionalso includes novel apparatus for accommodating a single large slivercan and the feeding of the single oversize sliver therefrom into thedrafting machine.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures METHOD FOR PROCESSING SLIVER Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Ser.No. 46,866, filed June 17, 1970, now abandoned and entitled METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR PROCESSING COMBED TEX- TILE SLIVERS.

In the drafting of textile fibers through a drafting machine, for manyyears it has been the conventional practice to feed into the draftingmachine a large number of conventional size slivers from a creel ofindividual sliver cans. In the case of processing worsted wool slivers,in particular, according to the French or Continental system, it hasbeen the usual practice to feed 6 to 32 or more ends of worsted sliver,weighing in the range of A to about 2 ounces per yard (about 55 to 875grains per yard) from individual sliver cans into a gilling machine forstraightening and parallelizing the fibers while drafting the same.Normally where the number of ends being fed into the gilling machines ison the high side of the aforementioned range of ends, the weight peryard for each end will be on the lower side of the range of weights andvice versa. It can be appreciated therefore that it has been necessaryto utilize a large number of sliver cans to serve as the'supply sourcefor each drafting machine, and that a large number of supply cans ofsliver had to be kept in reserve and at previous processing machines inorder to replace empty cans with filled cans of sliver at the creels ofthe drafting machines. Such large numbers of sliver cans obviouslyrequire considerable floor space in the mill, notwithstanding theinitial expense of obtaining such a large number of cans and the expenseof maintaining such cans as well as the labor involved in moving themfrom place to place for storing the same and performing the usualdoffing and donning operations.

Another problem which is quite critical attendant to the use of aplurality of individual conventional size slivers as the source ofsupply for a textile drafting machine is the fact that conventional sizeslivers are relatively weak and flimsy, since they are of light weightand have very little if any twist therein, and thus they become partedquite easily and with quite high frequency in their course from theusual small sliver cans into the drafting zones of textile draftingmachines. Such frequent parting of the slivers being fed has resulted inconsiderable down time and consequent loss of production. In fact aconditioner gilling machine normally has operated heretofore at about 60percent maximum efficiency. It follows that an attendant for a group ofmachines has been kept quite busy piecing-up the many individualconventional size slivers during the operation of the drafting machines,in addition to performing the usual doffing and donning operations andother duties necessary to the operation of the drafting machines.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improvedmethod of and apparatus for processing textile slivers and increasingthe operating efficiency of textile drafting machines, especiallygilling machines, while conserving floor space heretofore necessary foraccommodating the many cans of conventional size sliver heretoforeserving as a source of supply for each textile drafting machine, whilesubstantially reducing the labor heretofore involved in the handling ofthe many cans of conventional size sliver, and substantially eliminatingparting of sliver being fed to each textile drafting machine.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved apparatusfacilitating the feeding of textile sliver into a textile draftingmachine in such a manner as to eliminate the need for large creels suchas have been required heretofore for accommodating the many cans ofconventional size sliver heretofore serving as the source of supply forthe textile machine.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a method ofincreasing the operating efficiency of a textile drafting machine havinga drafting zone, such as a gilling machine, and conserving of floorspace heretofore necessary for accommodating many cans of conventionalsize sliver heretofore serving as the source of supply for the textilemachine, wherein the method comprises feeding into the drafting zone ofthe textile drafting machine'only a single oversize sliver formed from aplurality of conventional size slivers and having a weight per unitlength which is substantially equal to. the collective weight per unitlength of the many conventional size slivers required heretofore, andwhich single oversize sliver has a substantially higher tensile strengththan the conventional size slivers so that parting of the sliver beingfed is substantially eliminated.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus for thefeeding into a drafting machine of only a single oversize sliver whichapparatus comprises an unusually large, substantially cylindrical,castered sliver can, a locating device rearwardly of the machine andprovided with a recess in its rear portion for matingly receiving aportion of the sliver can therein, and a downwardly and forwardlyinclined conveyor whose rearmost portion is positioned above the slivercan adjacent the vertical axis thereof, and having its frontmost portionpositioned adjacent the drafting zone of the drafting machine forfeeding the oversize sliver into the machine.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of arow of sliver forming textile machines with a coiler at one end thereoffor coiling into a sliver can an oversize composite sliver composed ofslivers from the row of machines, and also showing such a compositesliver being withdrawn from a sliver can and fed into a textile draftingmachine;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the textile drafting machine,showing the same in the form of a gilling machine, and being takensubstantially along line 22 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the gilling machine of FIG. 2, butomitting the large sliver can.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates arow of sliver forming machines, such as drawing frames, gillingmachines, combing machines, carding machines or the like, each of whichreceives textile fibers from a suitable source and forms the fibers intoan individual conventional size sliver S. As schematically illustratedin FIG. 1, a creel 11 serves as a source of supply for each of themachines 10.

According to the method of the invention, instead of coiling the sliversfrom the machines into respective sliver cans, as has been a widespreadpractice heretofore, the successive slivers S are directed from thesliver forming machines 10 onto a common moving conveyor means 12 andthereby combined in side-byside substantially parallel relationship.During the combining of the conventional size slivers on the conveyormeans 12, they are directed downstream to a package forming zone, in thecourse of which the slivers pass from the conveyor means 12 into andthrough a suitable coiler l3. Coiler 13 functions in a well known mannerto condense the conventional size slivers into an oversize compositesliver S (FIG. 2) without imparting draft to the same, and to coil thesliver downwardly into an unusually large sliver can 14 therebeneathconstituting a composite sliver package.

It can be appreciated that the weight per unit length of the oversizecomposite sliver S of the thus formed package is many times greater thanthat of each conventional size sliver S emerging from the sliver formingmachines 10, and in actuality is substantially equal to the collectiveweight per unit length of all of the individual conventional sizeslivers thereof. In the processing of wool worsted fibers with whichthis invention is primarily concerned, each conventional size sliver Smay weigh in the range of a to about 2 ounces per yard, and anywherefrom 6 to 32 conventional size slivers may be used in forming a desiredcomposite sliver S, depending upon the stage of the processing thereofand the desired degree of blending. As shown in the drawings, 18machines are arranged in a row for producing a corresponding number ofslivers in forming the composite sliver S.

It should be noted that, although the conventional size slivers S arecombined to form the oversize sliver S, they are not drafted in theircourse from the sliver forming machines 10 to the large sliver can 14.Thus, the oversize composite sliver S is composed of a plurality (six ormore) conventional size slivers and has a.

weight per unit length substantially equal to the collective weight perunit length of all of the individual conventional slivers thereof. Also,it is apparent that the tensile strength of the oversize compositesliver is much greater that that of the individual conventional sizeslivers and, therefore, unintentional parting of the sliver insubsequent handling and through a subsequent drafting operation issubstantially eliminated. Furthermore, by combining the many individualconventional size slivers into a single oversize composite sliver, it isapparent that this conserves floor space heretofore necessary foraccommodating the many sliver cans heretofore serving as receptacles forthe individual slivers emerging from the sliver forming machines 10.

Since the single sliver can 14 must accommodate the production of all ofthe sliver forming machines 10 whose slivers S are to be combined intothe single oversize composite sliver S, it is preferred that thecapacity of sliver can 14 is much greater than that of a singleconventional size sliver can of about 12 to 14 inches diameter and about32 inches high. Therefore, because of the greater capacity of sliver can14 it is provided with casters 15 secured to the bottom wall thereof(FIG. 2) to facilitate moving the can 14 from place to place in themill. Typically, sliver can 14 may be about 4 feet in diameter and about5 56 to 6 feet high. It is preferred that the substantially cylindricalbody of sliver can 14 is made from a transparent or translucent materialto enable the attendant to observe the amount of sliver therein withoutthe need for looking into the open top of the can.

After sliver can 14 is filled with the desired amount of compositesliver S, it is doffed from coiler 13 and moved to a position adjacentthe input end of a textile drafting machine or drawing frame shown inthe form of a gilling machine 20. Gilling machine 20 includes a draftingzone 21 formed of driven feed rolls 22 and faster driven deliverydrafting rolls 23 with upper and lower sets of intersecting fallers 24,25 disposed between the feed and delivery rolls 22, 23. The gillingmachine may be conventional to the extent just described and in that thesmall combed and drafted sliver S" emerging from delivery rolls 23 maypass through a coiler head 27 to be coiled into a conventional sizesliver can 30. Alternatively, in place of the coiler head 27 and can 30,gilling machine 20 may be quipped with a top balling device, not shown,but of well known construction, for traversing the sliver 8'' onto arotating spindle or bobbin. In any event, the single oversize compositesliver S serves as the sole source of supply for the gilling machine 20.

To this end, conveyor means, comprising a driven endless conveyor belt34, is positioned adjacent the input end of gilling machine 20. Conveyorbelt 34 is mounted on rear and front rollers 35, 36. Since sliver can 14is of substantially greater height than the drafting zone 21, the rearroller 35 is positioned substantially higher than front roller 36 sothat the conveyor belt is inclined forwardly and downwardly from aposition spaced above and adjacent the vertical axis of sliver can 14 toa position adjacent feed rolls 22. It should be noted in FIG. 2 that theangular position of the conveyor belt 34 forms an acute bight in thesliver S passing thereover thus providing increased traction between theheavy sliver and the belt at this juncture.

Thus, conveyor belt 34 lifts and withdraws the composite sliver Supwardly out of sliver can 14 along a path of travel coincidingsubstantially with the axis of the can to minimize dragging the sliverover convolutions thereof in the can during withdrawal of the sliverfrom the can. The conveyor belt then directs the thus lifted compositesliver downwardly and forwardly at an angle onto a conventional feedapron 37 and thence between feed rolls 22 of drafting zone 21. As shown,feed apron 37 is entrained over the lowermost of the feed rolls 22 andover an apron roll 40 connected by a drive mechanism 41 to the frontconveyor roller 36 for driving conveyor belt 34 in timed relation to therolls 22, 23 and fallers 24, 25 of drafting zone 21. It has beendetermined that the operating efficiency of gilling machines has beenincreased considerably by utilizing a single oversize sliver, asdescribed, as the sole source of supply for each such machine. In fact,the gilling machine 20 operated at about percent maximum efficiency ascompared to a normal 60 percent maximum efficiency obtainable heretoforewhen a plurality of individual conventional size slivers from separatesmall slivercans were used as the source of supply for the gillingmachine 20.

Novel locating means 45 is provided for locating the unusually largesliver can 14 in the desired predetermined position rearwardly ofgilling machine and comprises an elevated platform 46 supported on legs47. Platform 46 is provided with a substantially U- shaped opening 50 ofsuch width and depth as to matingly receive the substantiallycylindrical body of sliver can 14 therein. The bottom or front wall ofopening 50 preferably is semicircular and is so positioned that thevertical axis of a can 14 positioned thereagainst will be substantiallyvertically aligned with the rearmost central portion of conveyor belt34. Thus, the corn posite sliver S is lifted upwardly from the centralportion of sliver can 14 by conveyor belt 34.

Platform 46 may be about 12 to 18 inches high. Since the height ofsliver can 14 may be about 5 k to 6 feet,

and the height of the upper portion of conveyor belt 34 may be up toabout 9 feet above the floor in order for the rear upper portion ofconveyor belt 34 to be located over the center of the sliver can 14, thelocating means 45 is of stepped construction. Accordingly, a pair ofrelatively small auxiliary elevated platforms 52 may extend upwardlyabout 12 to 18 inches from the main platform 46 adjacent oppositesidesof opening 50 and a sliver can positioned therein, so that an attendantmay reach the sliver 8' above the can by standing on either of theauxiliary platforms for piecing-up the sliver or performing othercorrective work when needed.

It is thus seen that I have provided an improved method of and apparatusfor processing sliver to increase the operating efficiency of a textiledrafting machine and to conserve floor space required heretofore toaccommodate many cans of conventional size sliver, wherein instead offeeding several. individual conventional size slivers from separatesources or sliver cans into the drafting zone of the machine, a singleoversize composite sliver formed from several conven-' tional sizeslivers serves as the sole source of supply for the drafting machine.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not forpurposes of limitation.

I claim:

1. A method of processing textile fibers which comprises feeding textilefibers through each of a plurality of sliver forming machines numberingabout 18, with each sliver weighing at least /4; oz. per yard, whiledelivering the slivers as a separate conventional size sliver from eachmachine, while successively combining the conventional size sliversbeing delivered from the machines in generally parallel relationship ona common moving conveyor, while directing the conventional size sliversinto and through a coiler to form a single oversize composite slivertherefrom having a weight per unit length substantially equal to thecollective weight of all of the individual slivers thereof as they weredelivered from the sliver forming machines, while coiling the compositesliver downwardly from the coiler into a large sliver can of about 4feet in diameter and about 5 5h feet or more in height, transferring thesliver can with the composite sliver therein away from the coiler d to aosition ad'acent th 'n ut end of textile dra iing ma hine havi'iig adrafting zone, and

then withdrawing the single oversize .composite sliver upwardly out ofthe sliver can and feeding the composite sliver into the drafting zoneas the sole source of supply for the drafting machine.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of withdrawing thecomposite sliver from the sliver can and feeding the same into thedrafting zone comprises lifting the composite sliver upwardly out of thesliver can and onto a moving conveyor at the input end of the draftingmachine.

1. A method of processing textile fibers which comprises feeding textilefibers through each of a plurality of sliver forming machines numberingabout 18, with each sliver weighing at least 1/8 oz. per yard, whiledelivering the slivers as a separate conventional size sliver from eachmachine, while successively combining the conventional size sliversbeing delivered from the machines in generally parallel relationship ona common moving conveyor, while directing the conventional size sliversinto and through a coiler to form a single oversize composite slivertherefrom having a weight per unit length substantially equal to thecollective weight of all of the individual slivers thereof as they weredelivered from the sliver forming machines, while coiling the compositesliver downwardly from the coiler into a large sliver can of about 4feet in diameter and about 5 1/2 feet or more in height, transferringthe sliver can with the composite sliver therein away from the coilerand to a position adjacent the input end of a textile drafting machinehaving a drafting zone, and then withdrawing the single oversizecomposite sliver upwardly out of the sliver can and feeding thecomposite sliver into the drafting zone as the sole source of supply forthe drafting machine.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the stepof withdrawing the composite sliver from the sliver can and feeding thesame into the drafting zone comprises lifting the composite sliverupwardly out of the sliver can and onto a moving conveyor at the inputend of the drafting machine.